Vinesh Phogat disqualified: In a big blow to India's medal hopes from the wrestling arena, Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg category at the Paris Olympics 2024 due to being overweight. This unexpected development has left her fans and the Indian sports community in disbelief.
A statement issued by the Indian Olympic contingent said that Phogat had tipped the scales above the 50 kg mark and was disqualified.
"It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand", says Indian Olympic Association.
"Vinesh Phogat was found to be 100 grams over the weight limit this morning," reported an Indian coach. "The rules are strict, and this has led to her disqualification." Consequently, Vinesh will not be eligible for any medals at the Paris Games. Despite being a strong contender for a silver, her disqualification means she will have to return home without any accolades.
Team India also took to their X handle and wrote, “It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand.”
Vinesh Phogat had entered the Gold Medal bout after beating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.
While this setback is undoubtedly significant, Vinesh Phogat's career has been characterised by her ability to overcome challenges. As she navigates this difficult moment, the wrestling community and her fans remain hopeful that she will bounce back stronger and continue to inspire with her perseverance and dedication to the sport.
